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Planting suggestions

gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
in Plants
Evening everyone. I’m after some advice, I’m looking for plant suggestions for a border. The border is in full sun for roughly half the day, it is 30-40cm deep from front to the back which is against the fence, but will have somewhat shallow soil as it will probably only be 30cm high. I was thinking of a climber but I think the soil will be too shallow, so could I perhaps look at tall perennials? How would Heleniums fare? 

Many thanks :smile:
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Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Do you mean 30cm soil depth? The 30-40cm width from back of fence to the edge of border is considered a small space for perennials. Heleniums may do fine for 1-2 years, but beyond that they will be too restricted. Scabious, Knautias and Rosemary might do well in smaller spaces.
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    Hi Borderline, sorry I’m not very good at explaining things 🙄 it’s 30cm from front to back, and 30cm deep from top of the border down into the soil. Can you get very tall Scabious?

    I can make the border itself larger so could be made up to 40cm from front to back though I’m not sure how much that would help. My main worry would be the shallow soil. Would it be best to dig in rotted manure to the shallow soil, or put topsoil on top of the original soil and then incorporate rotted manure?
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    edited February 2021
    30cm isn’t very deep for many plants, but you might be ok with a verbena bonariensis planted when little or from seed.
    Ive got the Lollipop variant, which doesn’t get too floppy as it’s not as tall as the standard one.
    Mine are east facing with sun until 1 and the root ball is smallish.
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    What is under the border?
    Southampton 
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants said:
    What is under the border?
    A lot of stones by the feel of it. I assume you meant the soil?
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Scabious range from 40-50cm tall. Knautia Macedonica can reach 90cm tall. 
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    Is it stony soil because that can always be improved giving any plants stamina.
    A solid layer of stones is of course another matter.
    Southampton 
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    edited February 2021
    Thanks for the information so far guys :smile: I wonder if anyone would have any suggestions regarding the soil improvement?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited February 2021
    Don’t think I can improve on  the suggestions here  
    ... adding  organic matter will improve any soil

    https://forum.gardenerswoorld.com/discussion/1048781/improving-soil-structure-without-overfeeding#latest

    😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I grow a fairly wide range of plants in a similar-sized, shallow narrow bed, having dug over the ground underneath first and improved the clay soil with loads of compost and grit. It’s only one railway sleeper high, but combined with the dug-over ground underneath its about 50cm planting depth at one end and as little as 30cm the other end. I mulch with fresh compost every year to keep it going.

    In there are hardy geraniums, verbena bonariensis tall and lollipop, salvia, nepeta, achillea, white gaura whirling butterflies (the pink ones are too boisterous), echinacea, rosemary, dwarf dahlias. A small David Austin rose, Harlow Carr grows well in the deep end with regular feeding. 

    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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